SUNRISE WINNERS ENTER OFFICE ON MUSICAL NOTE

The campaign was disharmonious, with overtures of violence, but the three men who won Sunrise City Council seats were serenaded with Happy Days Are Here Again after being sworn in Friday.

About 150 supporters -- not all of whom knew the lyrics -- gave the a capella performance in honor of Bill Colon, Larry Hoffman and Dan Pearl, who defeated supporters of indicted and suspended Mayor John Lomelo in Tuesday's election.

"This administration, acting in concert, will return the city to its people," Sidney Permisson said after the program. "It's about time we had some sanity in this city," added Aaron Schargel.

Hoffman won with 65 percent of the vote against Roger Wishner, while Colon and Pearl each carried 61 percent against Russell Posner and incumbent Nancy Rankine, who was not present Friday.

"Let our strength be the law of justice, for that which is feeble is found to be worth nothing," said Colon, who claimed during the campaign that a Posner supporter threatened to kill him.

Colon, Lomelo's most outspoken enemy, flashed the "V" sign to the crowd after taking the oath, but did not specify whether it meant victory or peace.

The swearing-in was conducted by Bob Butterworth, appointed acting mayor in December after Lomelo was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of extortion and mail fraud.

"I had many doubts about accepting the job three months ago, when the governor gave me a call," Butterworth said. "Any doubts I've had have gone away. It was definitely well worth it."

That line drew a standing ovation from the crowd, four of whom draped a banner on the back wall of City Hall that read: "Sunrise Needs Bob Butterworth."

During Butterworth's tenure, a study revealed that Lomelo and other city officials have taxes, benefits and Social Security paid by city funds. Lomelo, for example, costs the city $103,000 annually.

"I saw what was happening in the city, and it was obvious it needed correction," Pearl said before the meeting. A councilman from 1979 to 1983, Pearl lost the 1983 mayoral race to Lomelo.

The election results leave Council President Bernie Weiselberg as the only Lomelo supporter on the council. The fifth councilman is Michael Stern, appointed to replace John Montgomery after he was indicted with Lomelo.

"The fact that an individual dissents in true faith doesn't make him an ememy of the individual who holds the opposite view," Weiselberg told the council, which is likely to select a president at a meeting on Tuesday.

"I don't think Bernie will be elected as president," said Hoffman, who, with Colon, has expressed interest in the job.